GI Education

Gastrointestinal Tract

The Gastrointestinal tract, or GI tract, is the system by which ingested food is acted upon by physical and chemical means to provide the body with nutrients it can absorb and to excrete waste products.

Colonoscopy is a procedure to examine the lining of the entire colon (large bowel) using a flexible instrument, the colonoscope. A colonoscopy allows your gastroenterologist to look for the causes of unexplained symptoms like pain or rectal bleeding, check for and remove polyps or look for early signs of colon or rectal cancer. Read more on what happens during a colonoscopy and how to prepare. It’s important to have regular screenings. If detected early, Colon Cancer is 90% curable.

An upper endoscopy is a procedure that enables your gastroenterologist to examine the lining of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum (first portion of the small intestine) using a thin flexible tube with its own lens and light source. An upper endoscopy is used to identify reasons for upper abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, difficulty swallowing, weight loss or upper intestinal bleeding. Your gastroenterologist can also look for signs of disorders such as stomach ulcers or stomach cancer. Read more on what happens during an upper endoscopy and how to prepare.

Having a GI procedure can seem daunting if you don’t know what to expect. Learn about other GI procedures that we specialize in so you can know what takes place during the procedure, what preparation is required, and what you can expect after your procedure is complete.

There is a lot of information spread across the internet on Gastroenterology. We’ve compiled a list of some of the best and most helpful online resources for Gastroenterology related information. Read more »